OLEY TWP., Pa. – A longtime ice cream shop is reopening with the hopes of keeping tradition alive while also bringing in fresh new ideas.
“I think my dad said, ‘There’s nowhere to go get ice cream. Let’s open an ice cream shop,'” recalled Jennifer Ritschard, the owner.
Twenty-one years later, Ritschard is stepping up to the plate.
“I’ve been working here since it opened, since I was 14,” she said. “I went away to college, majored in food science at Penn State, had a career in food science for 12 and a half years.”
Now, she is the proud owner of Jen & Jessie’s Creamery.
“I’m really excited just to see where I can take this business in the future,” Ritschard said.
She’s keeping crowd favorites going.
“We have some special, unique sundaes and items,” Ritschard said. “We make homemade cho-chos that not a lot of places have, and novelties are all made here as well.”
She’s also opening doors to fresh new ideas.
“We’re adding a playground for children outside to be really fun for in the summer,” Ritschard said. “I’m excited to start maybe mobile services, whether it’s catering or a truck or a trailer, and possibly making my own ice cream one day in the future.”
The shop takes pride in giving back to the community they love.
“We donate to local organizations and participate in different fundraising events,” Ritschard said.
Everyone is welcome to come and check it out for themselves.
“We’re having a grand reopening celebration on June 11, 6 to 8 p.m.,” Ritschard said. “We’re going to have free face painting, a special celebration.”
